On Tour

Minimise jetlag

While there is no magic cure for jet lag, there are certainly ways that you can limit its affects.

Plan for your trip in advance, making sure the last couple of days prior to leaving you are completely relaxed and well rested. Otherwise if you are rundown and fly there is a higher chance you will get sick and will spend the first part of your trip trying to recover.
Reset your clock. When you board the plane change your watch to the local time of the destination you are traveling to. Try to stay up that bit longer or go to sleep earlier to get your body clock onto this new time schedule.
Eat, drink and rest. Opt for lighter meal options and drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration. Either take a couple of bottles of water onto the flight or continuously ask for drinks throughout the flight. Stick to water or fruit juices, avoid caffeine, alcohol and high sugar drinks. While those in-flight movies are tempting, opt for sleep instead. You may wish to take your own fold up travel pillow for extra comfort.
Regularly stretch and walk around the plane.
When you arrive at your destination, try to stay awake until early evening. Don’t sleep otherwise you won’t be able to sleep at night. If you are absolutely exhausted then have an hour-long nap as soon as you arrive however set your alarm or order a wake up call. The best method to stay awake is to stay active. The adrenalin of being on an exciting Insight tour should keep you awake!

Security on tour

While your Tour Director is always there to guide you, it also helps if you take your own precautions.

If you are exploring on your own, tell someone where you are going and don’t go down poorly lit or narrow alleys.
During you free time, make sure you don’t leave the hotel without writing down the address and phone number of your accommodations.
Do not leave money & valuables in your hotel room while you are out. Where possible use the hotel safe.
Do not leave valuables on the coach (even during short stops).
Avoid scam artists by being wary of strangers who approach you and offer to sell you something at bargain prices.
Beware of pickpockets. They often have an accomplice who will: Jostle you; Ask you for directions or the time; Point to something spilled on your clothing; Distract you by creating a disturbance.
Wear your bag across your chest and walk with the bag away from the road to avoid drive-by bag snatchers.
Try to be as inconspicuous as possible – wear appropriate clothing that does not make you stand out and look purposeful when you move about. Even if you are lost, act as though you know where you are and try to only ask for directions from individuals in authority.
Don’t attract unwanted attention by flashing large amounts of money when paying for bills or shopping.
When traveling, do not leave your bags or belongings unattended at any time.
A money belt worn under your clothing is the safest place to carry valuables. Your money belt should be undetectable under your clothing and should not be regularly accessed throughout the day. What to put in your money belt: Passport: You're legally supposed to have it with you at all times; Spare Credit or Debit card; Cash and Travellers Cheques – Larger bills; Emergency contact lists.
Most importantly stay alert, be aware of your surroundings and listen to your Tour Director who is always looking after your best interests.

Tour Director tips

Our tour directors are experienced travellers, learned historians and culture buffs. Their expertise and years of travel make them the world's best travel professionals so we asked them to add some of their tips for travel:

Ensure you have budgeted for the entire trip, including money for shopping, extra meals and optional excursions.
Research your destination(s) - learning a bit about your destination before you get there is a great way to prepare for your trip - there are plenty of books and online resources.
Learn some useful phrases - your tour director will be able to converse in the languages of the places you visit but learning a few phrases can’t hurt and any attempts are usually appreciated by locals.
Hone your photography skills - try out your camera in different conditions and find out what settings work best. Try your camera in different lighting, under various weather conditions. Also try taking the same object from different angles and capture moving objects. A little bit of practice will help you capture better pictures on tour.
Meet your fellow tour mates before you travel. Insight’s online Community section under Bulletin Board on the Insight website lets you meet travellers who are going to be on your tour prior to your trip. You can also get advice on touring from seasoned travellers and share your memories and stay in touch with friends after your tour.
Prepare your travel journal: a travel journal is a great way of keeping the memories of your trip alive for years to come. Find a journal that is easy to carry and take a plastic sleeve to keep mementoes such as ticket stubs and photos. There are also a lot of online journals that you can use.